Studio Ghibliare beloved for their feature films, fromMy Neighbor TotorotoThe Boy and the Heronand everything in between. However, relatively few fans are aware of Ghibli’s work as a support studio, and just how many classic anime series they’ve contributed to.
In the world of anime, it can sometimes be necessary to hire additional help in order to complete a project on time. That could involve contracting out an entire other studio to help with the animation. While the main studio is usually credited with the production of the entire series, these contracted support studios can still contribute a fair amount to the production, and sometimes their contributions go entirely unrecognized.
Studio Ghibli’s Cooperative and Contributive Works are Equally Impressive
While Hayao Miyazaki’s Feature Films Define Ghibli, Their Work on Anime Series is Great as Well
Ghibli has often fulfilled the role of a contracted support studio over the years, giving animators and other employees something to do when they aren’t engaged with a feature film’s production. The list of works that Ghibli has cooperated on or contributed to is extremely impressive: Ghibli, for example, helped with animation on episode 11 ofNeon Genesis Evangelionand worked as a production studio forDragon Ball’s fourth movie,The Path to Power. They similarly cooperated with Production I.G. onGhost in the Shell 2, and with Sunrise onMobile Suit Gundam Unicorn.
As for other works that Ghibli contributed to in much smaller amounts, there’sTrigun’s original 1998 anime, on which they worked on episode 3. Ghibli often does in-betweening for other studios, andfulfilled that role on projects likeDetective Conan: The Fourteenth Targetmovie,Fullmetal Alchemist(2003) andBrotherhood,Gurren Lagan, andRebuild of Evangelion 3.0, to name just a few. Ghibli has also contributed background art to a variety of projects, such asBleach: Hell Versemovie,Inuyasha the Movie: Fire on the Mystic Island, and many others.
While Ghibli’s contributions were often smaller parts of these projects, their work was still essential to the anime being released on time and looking the way that the producers wanted it to turn out. Still, it’s amazing how many of the projects that Ghibli worked on went on to become absolute anime classics, as if the studio even has a good eye for what will succeed when it comes to support work.
Ghibli’s Work on Features Overshadows Their Other Work
Studio Ghibli’s Focus on Features Means Fans Don’t Know Their Contributions
During a press tour forPrincess Mononokeback in the 90s,Miyazaki was quoted as saying,“We have consistently tried to make ‘films,’ not ‘anime.’ That is, to express time and space with more universality. We try to find ways of representation understandable to a country grandpa watching our film for the first time.“Miyazaki has often maintained that his work is distinct from the broader category of anime, not adhering to many of the tropes of the medium, apparently with the intention of keeping the movies accessible to people of all ages.
It’s hard to argue with their approach, given how treasured Ghibli’s films are around the world. Clearly, the accessibility of the movies has even transcended culture, making the films approachable for everyone, from anime fans to that Japanese country grandpa to American children. It’s certainly true that anime can sometimes be difficult to introduce to those who are unfamiliar with it, as many of the tropes and cliches of the genre are very idiosyncratic, referencing structure and characterization from previous anime works in a way that’s difficult for outsiders to understand.
WithMiyazaki’s general disdain for the broader category of animein mind, it’s perhaps a bit more understandable why Ghibli’s role in these other anime series and movies isn’t well known. Ghibli isn’t exactly looking for recognition on these projects, as they have a very specific brand identity that they want to protect, and many of these works just don’t fit the Ghibli mold, despite their quality. Thus, few fans know of Ghibli’s part in their favorite series.
Ghibli Also Has Many Collaborations It’s Proudly Displayed
Studio Ghibli’s Larger Collaborations Have Been Hits, Too
Studio Ghibli, in addition to the projects where it has played a small role and those which it’s taken on solo, has also collaborated with other studios and creatives in the past, often to great effect. Ghibli was a part of an international collaboration for the production ofThe Red Turtle, a 2016 animated film directed by Dutch filmmaker Michael Dudok de Wit, alongside numerous French studios.The Red Turtleis known for having no dialog, and received wide critical acclaim, even receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature Film, but ultimately lost toZootopia.
One of Ghibli’s most unusual collaborations wasNi No Kuni, a video game which released in 2011 and was primarily developed by Level-5. The game featured a 3-D artstyle that was heavily influenced by Ghibli films, and Studio Ghibli created the animated cutscenes, which are found in the game. Even Ghibli’s longtime composer, Joe Hisaishi, contributed substantially to the game’s musical score.Ni No Kuniwas incredibly well-received upon release, and the game went on to become one of the PlayStation 3’s best-selling games.Ni No Kunihad a sequel in 2018, although Ghibli was not involved with that production.
While many think of Ghibli as a studio that stands alone, like a titan on the field of anime, the truth is that Ghibli couldn’t exist as it does without taking on these kinds of support roles.
While many think of Ghibli as a studio that stands alone, like a titan in the field of anime, the truth is that Ghibli couldn’t exist as it does without taking on these kinds of support studio roles, helping other series get completed. Their role in these series might not be one that the studio brags about, but it’s incredibly important all the same.Even Miyazaki, with his general dislike of anime, realizes that, and seemingly has no problem with the studio’s contributions to these other works.
In the end,Studio Ghiblihas had a hand in such a huge number of successful series and franchises that it’s almost hard to believe, but that doesn’t change the fact of their involvement.
